Rotary and axially compressible valve system means

ABSTRACT

Rotary and axially compressible valve system means comprising rotary valve means and compression means is operatively mounted between stationary valve means and reaction wall means, wherein said rotary valve means has a rotary valve face constrained against said stationary valve means by said compression means for providing minimum valve leakage therebetween. Said rotary valve means has engageable face wall means and said compression means has annular face wall means. The engageable face wall means and the annular face wall means confrontingly engage each other. One of said face wall means has an annular portion axially spaced from the other and is resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining the rotary valve face against the stationary valve means.

United States Patent Woodling [451 Apr. 25, 1972 ROTARY AND AXIALLY I COMPRESSIBLE VALVE SYSTEM MEANS [72] Inventor: George V. Woodling, 22077 West Lake Road, Rocky River, Ohio 441 16 [22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 93,227

52 U.S. Cl ..418/61, 251/175 [51] Int. Cl. ..F0lc 1/02, F03c 3/00, F16k 25/00 [58] Field oISearch ..4l8/6l;251/175,180,185, 251/192 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,969,810 1/1961 Dudley ..251/175 2,984,223 5/1961 Budzich... ...25l/175 3,289,542 12/1966 Fikse ....418/61 3,389,618 6/1968 McDermott ..418/61 r an 20 3,405,603 10/1968 Woodling ..418/61 Primary Examiner-Carlton R. Croyle Assistant Examiner-John J. Vrablik Attorney-Woodling, Krost, Granger and Rust [5 7] ABSTRACT Rotary and axially compressible valve system means comprising rotary valve means and compression means is operatively mounted between stationary valve means and reaction wall means, wherein said rotary valve means has a rotary valve face constrained against said stationary valve means by said compression means for providing minimum valve leakage therebetween. Said rotary valve means has engageable face wall means and said compression means has annular face wall means. The engageable face wall means and the annular face wall means confrontingly engage each other. One of said face wall means has an annular portion axially spaced from the other and is resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining the rotary valve face against the stationary valve means.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures Fl 29 szggsaas g 26 IL a 22 s s A -cal PATENTEDAPR 2 5 1972 SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG.6

FIG.5

INVENTOR GEORGE v. wooouue ROTARY AND AXIALLY COMPRESSIBLE VALVE SYSTEM MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Mutually engaging faces of a face-type valve are disposed to leak, unless a close mechanical tolerance is maintained therebetween, which is difficult to accomplish consistently on a production basis.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide for axially constraining the mutually engaging valve faces together to reduce leakage.

Another object is to constrain the mutually engaging valve faces together by compression means to reduce leakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention constitutes rotary and axially compressible valve system means comprising first and second fluid chamber means, stationary valve means having a stationary valve face, reaction wall means facing said stationary valve face and disposed axiallytherefrom, rotary valve means having a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve face, said rotary valve means and said stationary valve means controlling the flow of fluid to and from said first and second fluid chamber means, axial compression means, said axial compression means and said rotary valve means being disposed between said stationary valve face and said reaction wall means, said compression means having side wall means disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said rotary valve means having engageable face wall means, said compression means having annular facewall means, said annular face wall means and said engageable face wall means confrontingly engaging each other, one of said face wall means having an annular portion axially spaced from the other of said face wall means and being resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face, said rotary valve and said compression means having external wall means and internal wall means, said first fluid chamber means including said external wall means, said second fluid chamber means includ ing said internal wall means, said rotary valve means having first fluid connection means interconnecting said first fluid chamber means-and said stationary valve face and having second fluid connection means interconnecting said second fluid chamber means and said stationary valve face, and means to actuate said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a fluid pressure device embodying the features of my invention;

. FIG. 2 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 1, the section beingtaken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 9; except that the sectional view, for clarity, is taken as if it were extended through both of the fluid port means which are located on opposite sides of the longitudinal section;

' FIG. 3 is a representation of a male shank provided on a terminal end portion of a hollow shaft adapted to slidably fit within a female socket of the rotary valve means, the male shank being rotated 90 from the position shown in FIG. 2 to show the interfitting flat pads on opposite sides thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the hollow male shank of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG; 2, taken along the line 55 thereof and showing principally an annular confronting face of a stationary reaction wall;

FIG. 6 is a right-hand end view of the face of the compression means in FIG. 2, taken along the line 6-6 thereof;

FIG. 7 is a left-hand side view of a stationary valve in FIG. 2, taken along the line 7-7 thereof, showing principally a plurality of circumferentially disposed fluidvalve openings therein;

FIG. 8 is a left-hand end view of the face of the rotary valve means which confrontingly engages the right-hand face of the compression means shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a right-hand end view of the rotary valve means which is sealingly constrained against the stationary valve in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary valve means, taken along the line 10l0 of FIG. 9; and p FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary valve means, taken along the line ll11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rotary valve means and the compression means shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 shows a modification of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 shows a modification of the rotary valve means, in that it is made of two separate parts sealingly engaging each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The fluid pressure device in which my invention may be incorporated may comprise a fluid motor or any other fluid device having a rotatable valve.

With reference to the drawings, the fluid pressure device in which my invention may be incorporated comprises generally a main housing 20 having substantially a square cross-section. A mounting flange 21 may be secured to the left-hand end of the housing by means of suitable screws (not'shown). The housing is hollow from end-to-end, and intermediate the ends of the housing there is provided an annular internal rim 22 which generally separates the hollow housing into a left-hand end compartment and a right-hand end compartment.

Rotatively mounted in the left-hand end compartment is a main load shaft 25 having an axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the fluid pressure device. The main shaft 25 comprises an enlarged internal portion having a reduced external portion 41 extending axially outwardly of the main housing through the mounting flange 21. The enlarged internal portion of the main shaft is supported preferably by tapered roller bearings 42 and 43 which provide-end thrust as well as radial thrust. A lightening nut 54 which threadably engages male threads 55 secures the bearings 42 and 43 against axial movement upon the main shaft. The tightening nut 54 may be provided with a built-in locking feature to prevent loosening.

On the right-hand end of the hollow housing 20, there is mounted a square stationary valve member 29 by means of screws 30. The stationary valve member 29 has a stationary valve face 37. The annular internal rim 22 has reaction wall means 64 facing the stationary valve face 37 and is axially spaced therefrom. Between the stationary valve face 37 and the reaction wall means 64, there are mounted rotary valve means 28 and compression means 27. The rotary valve means 28 is adapted to be rotated relative to the stationary valve member 29 for controlling the entrance of fluid to and the exit of fluid from a stator-rotor mechanism 31 comprising a stator 32 and a rotor 33. An end cap 34 encloses the stator-rotor mechanism 31. The stator-rotor mechanism 31 and the end cap 34 are secured to the stationary valve member 29 by means of screws 35. Fluid is delivered to and from the housing 20 through a pair of fluid ports 23 and 24. An interconnecting shaft 36 interconnects the main shaft 25 and the rotor 33 of the stator-rotor mechanism 33 and is adapted to transmit torque therebetween.

'The bearings 42 and 43 constitute common bearing means for the main shaft 25 and the rotary valve means 28. The common bearing means directly supports the main shaft 25 and indirectly supports the rotary valve means 28 through extension drive means comprising a hollow shaft 44 integrally connected to the main shaft 25. The hollow shaft 44 extends axially through the internal rim 22 into the right-hand end compartment and makes a driving connection with the rotary valve means 28 for driving same. The hollow shaft 44 terminates with a male shank 45 which slidably fits within a female socket 46 provided in the rotary valve means 28, see FIG. 8. This connection comprises a nomrotative connection and rotates the rotary valve means 28 upon rotation by the main shaft. This connection also provides slidable axial movement between the rotary valve means 28 and the hollow shaft 44 to accommodate for axial movement of the load shaft without interfering with the operation of the rotary valve means 28. The axial slidable movement which is permitted between the male shank 45 and the female socket 46 is greater than the maximum distance that the load shaft 25 may be moved in an axil direction during operation. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 12, the rotary valve means 28 and the right-hand housing compartment in which it is mounted has a radial clearance 47 therebetween to accommodate for radial movement of the main shaft 25 without interfering with the operation of the rotary valve means 25. The radial clearance 47 is greater than the maximum distance that the main shaft 25 may move in a radial direction during operation. The radial clearance 47 also extends between the compression means 27 and the main housing.

The rotary valve means 28 is generally H-shaped in crosssection and comprises first and second opposite body sides or flanges 56 and 57 interconnected by an annular cross-bar 61, see FIGS. and 12. The first flange 56 has a rotary valve face 40 (FIG. 9) which is constrained against the stationary valve face 37. The second flange 57 has engageable face wall means 52 (FIGS. 8 and 12) which faces the reaction wall means 64. The compression means 27 is mounted between the engageable face wall means 52 and the reaction wall means 64. The compression means 27 has an H-shaped cross-section and comprises opposing axially spaced flange legs 70 and 71 and an interconnecting annular cross-bar 72. The flange legs 70 and 71 each have an inner flange portion with opposing faces 73 and 74, defining an internal fluid channel 59 within the cross-bar 72. Also, each of the flange legs 70 and 71 have an outer flange portion with opposing faces 75 and 76, defining an external fluid channel 58 within the annular cross-bar. The flange leg 70 has annular face wall means 78 confrontingly engaging the engageable face wall means 52 of the rotary valve means 28. As shown in FIG. I2, the annular face wall means 78 has an internal annular portion axially spaced from the engagcable face wall means 52 of the rotary valve means 28 and is resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining the rotary valve face 40 against the stationary valve face 37. The two confronting face wall means define an annular pocket 65 therebetween into which fluid may leak. The above described facing relationship may be just the reverse, in that the engageable face wall means 52 of the rotary valve means may comprise the flexible member. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 12, the rotary valve means 28 and the compression means 27 both have external wall means and internal wall means. The external wall means defines a first fluid chamber means 80 in constant fluid communication with the fluid port 23, see FIG. 2. The internal wall means defines a second fluid chamber means 81 in constant fluid communication with the fluid port 24 through openings 50 in the hollow shaft 44.

As shown, the fluid chamber means 80 and 81 are in valve communication with the stator-rotor mechanism. The valve communication to and from the first fluid chamber means 80 is provided through fluid conduction means 83 in the outer flange portion of the flange leg 56 of the rotary valve means. The valve communication to and from the second fluid chamber means 81 is provided through fluid conduction means 84 in the inner flange portion of the flange leg 56 of the rotary valve means, see FIG. 9. The fluid conduction means 83 and 84 are disposed to register, upon rotation of the rotary valve means, with a plurality of fluid openings 48 provided in the stationary valve member 29 which communicate with the stator-rotor mechanism.

The operation of the rotary valve means 28 in commutation with the stationary valve member 29 is such that there is a first series of commutating fluid connections between the fluid port 23 and the stator-rotor mechanism and a second series of commutating fluid connections between the stator-rotor mechanism and the fluid port 24. The commutating valve action, and the flow of fluid between the fluid ports 23 and 24 and the stator-rotor mechanism is substantially the same as that shown and described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,603.

In FIGS. 2 and 12, the compression means 27, being exposed to fluid pressure, is held against rotation relative to the reaction wall means 64, in which case relative movement occurs between the engageable face wall means 52 of the rotary valve means and the annular face wall means 78 of the compression means 27. Due to the constraining action between the two relatively rotatable face wall means very little leakage occurs therebetween. The annular pocket 65 may thus become filled-up with leakage fluid.

In FIG. 13, which is a modification of FIG. 12, the engageable annular face wall means 52 is provided with small fluid openings 86 and 87 whereby fluid may flow, with restriction, into the annular pocket 65. The small fluid openings 86 and 87 provide a small restrictive leakage path between the two fluid chamber means and 81. The fluid pressure in the annular pocket 65 thus aids in constraining the rotary valve face 40 against the stationary valve face 37. In FIG. 13, the compression means 27 is positively held against rotation relative to the reaction wall means 64 by dowel pin means 88.

FIG. 14 shows a modification of the rotary valve means 28, in that it is constructed of two parts 90 and 91 sealingly engaging each other at 92. The two parts 90 and 91 have the same configuration as the single-part rotary valve means shown in the previous views. The part 90 is adapted to be driven by the hollow shaft 44 and may rotate relative to the part 91 at 92.

The amount of the axial thrust of the compression means 27 for urging the rotary valve means against the stationary valve member 29, is, of course determined by the leakage factor. It need not be any greater than that required to prevent excessive leakage. If the axial thrust is too great, it may impose an excessive drag on the rotation of the rotary valve means. The amount that the compression means 27 is under axial restraint may be in the order of approximately 0.005 inch to accommodate for wear.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means and fluid pressure operating means, first and second fluid connection means for respectively connecting said first and second fluid port means commutatively with said fluid pressure operating means, said fluid pressure operating means including a fluid pressure operated member having orbital and rotational movements, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means respectively having a stationary valve face and a rotary valve face mutually engaging each other, reaction wall means facing said stationary valve face and disposed axially therefrom, axial compression means, said axial compression means and said rotary valve means being disposed between said stationary valve face and said reaction wall means, said compression means having side wall means disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said rotary valve means having engageable face wall means. said compression means having annular face wall means, said annular face wall means and said engageable face wall means confrontingly engaging each other, one ofsaid face wall means having an annular portion spaced fromthe other of said face wall means and being resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face, said rotary valve means and said compression means having external wall means and internal wall means. said first fluid connection means including first fluid chamber means, said second fluid connection means including second fluid chamber means, said first fluid chamber means including said external wall means, said second fluid chamber means including said internal wall means, said stationary valve means having a plurality of fluid openings communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, said rotary valve means having first fluid conduction means interconnecting said first fluid chamber means and said plurality of fluid openings and having second fluid conduction means interconnecting said second fluid chamber means and said plurality of fluid openings, and means to actuate said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means by said fluid pressure operated member.

2. Valve system means comprising first and second fluid chamber means, stationary valve means having a stationary valve face, reaction wall means facing said stationary valve face and disposed axially therefrom, rotary valve means having a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve face, said rotary valve means and said stationary valve means controlling the flow of fluid to and from said first and second fluid chamber means, axial compression means, said axial compression means and said rotary valve means being disposed between said stationary valve face and said reaction wall means, said compression means having side wall means disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said rotary valve means having engageable face wall means, said compression means having annular face wall means, said an nular face wall means and said engageable face wall means confrontingly engaging each other, one of said face wall means having an annular portion axially spaced from the other of said face wall means and being resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face, said rotary valve and said compression means having external 'wall means and internal wall means, said first fluid chamber means including said external wall means, said second fluid chamber means including said internal wall means, said rotary valve means having first fluid connection means interconnecting said first fluid chamber means and said stationary valve face and having second fluid connection means interconnecting said second fluid chamber means and said stationary valve face, and means to actuate said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means.

3. The structure of claim 1, wherein one of said face wall means is rotatably movable relative to the other.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said annular face wall means is rotatably stationary relative to said reaction wall means.

5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said compression means is responsive to fluid pressure.

6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said confronting face wall means define a fluid compartment therebetween and means providing fluid communication between said fluid compartment and both said first and second fluid chamber means.

7. The structure of claim 1, wherein one of said face wall means is resiliently flexible in an axial direction relative to the other and constrains said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotary valve means i has two separate parts sealingly engaging each other.

9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said compression means comprises an annular member having first and second side walls, said first side wall being disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said second side wall constituting said annular face wall means.

10. The structure of claim 9, wherein said annular face wall means is resiliently flexible in an axial direction relative to said engageable face wall means and constrains said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face. 

1. In a fluid pressure device having first and second fluid port means and fluid pressure operating means, first and second fluid connection means for respectively connecting said first and second fluid port means commutatively with said fluid pressure operating means, said fluid pressure operating means including a fluid pressure operated member having orbital and rotational movements, said first and second fluid connection means including stationary valve means and rotary valve means respectively having a stationary valve face and a rotary valve face mutually engaging each other, reaction wall means facing said stationary valve face and disposed axially therefrom, axial compression means, said axial compression means and said rotary valve means being disposed between said stationary valve face and said reaction wall means, said compression means having side wall means disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said rotary valve means having engageable face wall means, said compression means having annular face wall means, said annular face wall means and said engageable face wall means confrontingly engaging each other, one of said face wall means having an annular portion spaced from the other of said face wall means and being resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face, said rotary valve means and said compression means having external wall means and internal wall means, said first fluid connection means including first fluid chamber means, said second fluid connection means including second fluid chamber means, said first fluid chamber means including said external wall means, said second fluid chamber means including said internal wall means, said stationary valve means having a plurality of fluid openings communicating with said fluid pressure operating means, said rotary valve means having first fluid conduction means interconnecting said first fluid chamber means and said plurality of fluid openings and having second fluid conduction means interconnecting said second fluid chamber means and said plurality of fluid openings, and means to actuate said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means by said fluid pressure operated member.
 2. Valve system means comprising first and second fluid chamber means, stationary valve means having a stationary valve face, reaction wall means facing said stationary valve face and disposed axially therefrom, rotary valve means having a rotary valve face sealingly engaging said stationary valve face, said rotary valve means and said stationary valve means controlling the flow of fluid to and from said first and second fluid chamber means, axial compression means, said axial compression means and said rotary valve means being disposed between said stationary valve face and said reaction wall means, said compression means having side wall means disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said rotary valve means having engageable face wall means, said compression means having annular face wall means, said annular face wall means and said engageable face wall means confrontingly engaging each other, one of said face wall means having an annular portion axially spaced from the other of said face wall means and being resiliently flexible relative thereto in an axial direction for constraining said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face, said rotary valve and said compression means having external wall means and internal wall means, said first fluid chamber means including said external wall means, said second fluid chamber means including said internal wall means, said rotary valve means having first fluid connection mEans interconnecting said first fluid chamber means and said stationary valve face and having second fluid connection means interconnecting said second fluid chamber means and said stationary valve face, and means to actuate said rotary valve means relative to said stationary valve means.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein one of said face wall means is rotatably movable relative to the other.
 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein said annular face wall means is rotatably stationary relative to said reaction wall means.
 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein said compression means is responsive to fluid pressure.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein said confronting face wall means define a fluid compartment therebetween and means providing fluid communication between said fluid compartment and both said first and second fluid chamber means.
 7. The structure of claim 1, wherein one of said face wall means is resiliently flexible in an axial direction relative to the other and constrains said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face.
 8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said rotary valve means has two separate parts sealingly engaging each other.
 9. The structure of claim 1, wherein said compression means comprises an annular member having first and second side walls, said first side wall being disposed in facing relation to said reaction wall means, said second side wall constituting said annular face wall means.
 10. The structure of claim 9, wherein said annular face wall means is resiliently flexible in an axial direction relative to said engageable face wall means and constrains said rotary valve face against said stationary valve face. 